Karen,

I'd be interested in responding to your questionnaire.

Some comments/questions about your project:

   "Museums still often fail to "teach" the subject rather than simply
   display."
      I strongly recommend that you carefully define "teach" for the
      purposes of your study. This will necessarily require that you define
      "learn," as well. There will be differing assumptions about these
      words' meanings among your survey subjects and among your study's
      audience.

   "What type of exhibition tools do visitors feel convey to them the
   subject
   best? (documentary films, specific interactives, narratives, audio,
   etc."
      It would interest me to know whether visitors' feelings about what
      best conveys subject matter produce different results than other
      measures.

Where are you studying?

Caitlin

Caitlin McQuade
Exhibit Planner
National Park Service

Date:    Thu, 22 May 2008 13:31:31 -0400
From:    Karen <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Audience Research

I am posting this question to the list with the hopes of gathering as many
resources and ideas as possible.

I am currently working on my thesis on "...making museums a curricular
site.."

There are two main focuses of my research:
1. Two Surveys
One survey will be aimed at a museum staff group focused primarily on
exhibit developers, curators and education program developers. The second
survey will strictly focus on audience reactions to particular exhibits or
educational programs.

2. Qualitative analysis based on surveys
Some of the questions I hope to answer are:
How do you plan an exhibit to appeal to an audience that greatly differs in

both cognitive development levels, as well their contextual understanding
of
the subject? How much thematic or historical background should you provide?

Museums still often fail to "teach" the subject rather than simply display.

They rely on the education department to teach through programs rather than

making use of interpretive exhibition design. Exhibitions often lack enough

layers to the curatorial voice to provide the individual with an option of
a
superficial or in-depth learning experience.

What type of exhibition tools do visitors feel convey to them the subject
best? (documentary films, specific interactives, narratives, audio, etc.)
-------
Is anyone aware of similar research that has been conducted?

From the educator, curator, or developer point-of-view, is there anyone who

wishes to participate in this questionnaire? If so, are there any questions

you would like me to explore in particular?

Are there any exhibitions, displays or media that you have used that have
elicited a particularly positive audience response?

NOTE: My research focuses primarily on social and historical exhibitions,
but I am willing to include any art exhibitions that also explore the
historical context of included works.

I would appreciate ANY input ANYONE has on this subject.
Please feel free to contact me off of the list if you wish.

Best,
Karen
[log in to unmask]

=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:

The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).

If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).